Caught in the ftream of an impetuous guft, The dreadful doctrine of eternal punifliment is defcribed in all its horrors. -At fartheft end Of that obfcure, a pillary cloud arose Of fulph'rous fmoke, that from hell's crater fteam'd; Blue fafhing fires burst forth, that sparkling blaz'd Of the fad crew beneath. Thence might be heard Their ruthlefs tafk, and to the cauldron's edge These wretched beings are vifited by Chrift; and they draw from him Such rigorous juftice, triumphing over mifery, cannot be easily reconciled with rational ideas of the Supreme Being, nor with the mild and gentle character of Chrift:-but whatever may be thought of the doctrine itself, it muft, we think, be admitted, that fuch fubjects are ill adapted to poetry. We cannot better exprefs our ideas on this head, than in the words of Dr. Johnfon, in his life of Milton: "Of the ideas fuggefted by thefe awful fcenes, from fome we recede with with reverence, except when stated hours require their affociation; and from others we fhrink with horror, or admit them only as falutary inflictions, as counterpoifes to our interefts and paffions. Such images rather obftruct the career of fancy than incite it. "Pleasure and terror are indeed the genuine fources of poetry: but poetical pleasure muft be 'fuch as human imagination can at least conceive, and poetical terror fuch as human ftrength and fortitude may combat. The good and evil of eternity are too ponderous for the wings of wit; the mind finks under them in paffive helpletnefs, content with calm belief and humble adoration." We could felect here and there paflages equally poetical and impreffive; but after all, we queftion whether they will confer immortality on a work, the far greater part of which confifts of diffuse narrations, or of difcourfes put into the mouths of the feveral parties concerned in our Saviour's capture, trial, and crucifixion. Mr. Cumberland is throughout, a warm advocate for the Trinity, and the creed of the established church; but we fear the circulation of his book will be too limited for it ever to obtain the praife conferred on the Paradife Loft; that is, of its having contributed more to fupport the orthodox creed than all the bodes of divinity that ever were writ ten. Travels during the Years 1787, 1788, and 1789; undertaken more particularly with a l'iew of afcertaining the Cultivation, Wealth, Refources, and National Profperity of the King dom of France. By Arthur Young, Efq. F.R.S. &c. 2 Vol. 4to. 1792. A BOOK fo valuable as this must prove to every clafs of readers, we could not leave unnoticed; though our contracted limits, profeffing only to be an account, not a review of books, will not allow of our making thofe copious extracts of agreeable information with which Mr. Young's book abounds, but in the felection of which we fhould be at a lofs where to ftop. Should our mention of it, however, merely prove an inducement to fome of our readers to perufe volumes which, from accidental circumftances, may not already have fallen into their hands, we fhall think we have done a public benefit, by promoting, as much as lies in our power, a turn for the cultivation of and attention to a fcience which is the fource of our real wealth, and which is the bafis of the profperity of thefe kingdoms. From the comparative view here prefented by our author of French and English agriculture, though confefledly giving the latter the preference in every refpect, we are taught to find that we do not excel the reft of Europe fo much as other travellers, who have not made agriculture the peculiar object of their enquiries, would make us believe we do. We do not make this obfervation by way of depreciating our own progrefs in this department; but only that the efforts of our rivals may ftimulate us to fresh exertions, and animate us in the purfuit of fo ufeful and fo noble a fcience. Indeed it must be admitted that, till lately, the faine attention has not been paid to agriculture that has been devoted devoted to lefs important objects, and occafioned our rapid progrefs and improvement in them. The ftudy, however, of agriculture, owing to the exertions of our author, affifted by the Board of Agriculture in England, and of Sir John Sinclair in Scotland, bids fair to become a favourite purfuit; and we have no doubt of foon making equal ftrides to perfection in it. The Annals of Agriculture, a monthly publication carried on under the immediate management and care of our author, has certainly contributed much to the diffemination of this fpecies of knowledge, by forming a point of union to which the intelligent farmer can refort, either to receive or communicate information. The agricultural world is alfo indebted to our author for a Farming Tour in Ireland, which, though the only book upon that fubject, and containing many interefting particulars, is, we believe, but little known. ners, cuftoms, and amufements of the inhabitants. In the fecond volume, Mr. Young throws the principal fubjects belonging to the leading and predominant object of his view, namely agriculture, into diftinct chapters, in which he treats of the extent, foil, and face of the country, climate, produce, rent, and price of land, courtes of crops, irrigation, meadows, lucerne, fanfoin, pines, inclofures, tenantry, fize of farms, fheep, capital employed in hutbandry, the price of provifions, labour, and produce of France; population, police of corn, commerce, manufactures, taxation, and concluding obfervations on the revolution, and the probable effects it would have on the general interests of the kingdom. On this variety of interefting topics, much valuable information is given, founded on authentic documents and accurate returns. On the whole, we cannot take The first volume of the work leave of our lively traveller, withnow before us, contains the jour-out expreffing our obligations to nal or diary of our author's tour in France, Italy, and Spain; in this journal are contained many interefting obfervations on the face and products of the countries thro' which he paffed, and upon the man him for a vaft deal of light on agricultural and political fubjects, interfperied with much amusing detail of the character and state of fociety in the countries, he vifited. THE CONTENTS. 7 HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAP. I. Human Affairs governed by permanent Principles. Characters-of Nations how formed. Character of the French Nation. Hiftory of the Spirit of the French Nation for more than a Century paft. Connection between the Inftitution of the French Academy and the late Revolution in France. The greatest Characters in the highest Stations, carried, along with others, on the Tide of public Opinion. Queftion concerning the real Views of the Authors of the French Revolution. Manifefto drawn up by Condorcet, and decreed by the National Affembly. The fame extravagant Hopes of general Improvement and Happiness that were entertamed in France, diffused throughout other Countries in Europe. Different Parties and Denominations of Men concur in a Defire to fubvert the old, and establish a new Order of Affairs. The immediate Commencement of the Millenium expected. Miferable Difappointment. The Confiitution from which fo much had been expected, fraught with the Seeds of Diffolution and the most Shocking Crimes and direful Calamities. In the Mulft of thefe, the Levity and Impetuofity of the French Character ftill predominant. The firft Fruits of the new Conflitution adopted by the Legislative Affembly. The Revolution and Maffacres of Avignon. The ambitious Policy of the French the fame as that of the ancient Romans. Act against Emigration, and for punishing the Emigrants. This not fanctioned by the King. The King writes Letters to the Princes, preffing them to return within the Bofom of France. The Royalifts of France, after the Retreat of the Princes, divided into two Parties; the Queen's and that of the Princes. Circumftances that fomentel a preconceived Jealousy of the King. Plan of the Affembly for leffening the Porter of the King, and establishing their own on its Ruins. The various Steps taken in the Profecution of this Plan. Thofe taken by the Court for their Counteraction. Change of Miniftry. Internal Contefts and Diffentions. Declaration of War against the Emperor. The King refufes to fanction Decrees for a Camp near Paris, and against the Refractory Priefts. A furious Multitude breaks into the Palace of the Thuilleries. Remonftrance against this Outrage by the General La Fayette. Decree announcing the Country to be in Danger CHAP. II. Confederation against France of the Empires of Germany and Ruffia, and the Courts of Turin, Naples, Rome, Spain, and Portugal. The Combined Armies of Auftria and Pruffia, on the Frontiers of France, commanded by the Duke of Brunswick. Manifefto of the Duke. Federates, from all Parts of France, celebrate the Third Anniversary of the Revolution." The Whole of Paris overawed VOL. XXXIV. by by a fmall Band of Marfeillois. The Marfeillors become a Rallying Poft to the pofive Citizens, who gain by Degrees an Afcendency in Paris, and the other Towns in France. Motion for an Accufation against la Fayette rejected. The Rejection of this Morion irritates the Parifians. Petitions to the Affemb'y for the Depofition of the King. Proclamation of the King to the Nation. The Thuil- leries attacked by an immenfe Multitude, armed with Pikes and Muskets, and furnished with Cammon. The Thuilleries reduced by the Affailants. The Defend ers of the Thuilleries, after a gallant Refiftance, overpowered by Numbers, and the greater Part of them malfacred. The King and Royal Family flee to the National Affembly. Measures that had been taken or advised, previously to this, for the Support of the Royal Authority. Conduct of the AfJembly before, at, and after the Engagement of the Thuilleries. Generous Efforts of Individuals for facing the flying Swifs. The King fufpended from the Royal Functions. The Caufes that involved the Diffolution of the French Monarchy. The Foundations on which the Monarchy was established. These removed by a Change of Manners. Three Eras or Periods of the Revolution. The proximate Caufe of the final Dif- folution of the Monarchy. The Community of Paris takes the Lead in Public Affairs. Change of Miniflers. General Elections. Arrefts and Domiciliary Vifits. Walking Commiffioners. Prifons full of Viims. Maffacres at Paris. Cruel Treatment of the Royal Family. The Meeting of the National Convention. Their Proceedings. They abolish Royalty. Court the Favour and invite the Aid of Philofophers. Amals in their Treafury as much Gold and Silver as poffible. Prepare for a Mock Trial, and the Execution of the King. Efforts of Roland, Minifter of the Interior, to foothe the public Mind, and reflore Order, and the peaceable Purfuits of Industry. Without Success. Abfurdity of the great poli- tical Principles on which he acted, and Extravagance of his Expectations. Vanity of expecting a general Change of inveterate Habits from the Inftitution of new Laws. The Efficacy of Laws depends on Activity of human Paffions 47 Infurrection in the French West Indies. Internal State of the Ilauds previous to which prevailed. All parties difcontented. Threatening Afpect of Affairs. Dreadful Convulfions evidently at Hand. Difpofition of France towards the Colo- nies. Society of Les amis des Noirs. Its Proceedings. The Inhabitants of St. Domingo Jend 18 Deputies to the National Affembly in 1789. Suppreffion of an Infurrection of the Mulattoes. The Legislature of France wifely refolve not to m- terfere in the Affairs of the Colonies. The General Colonial Affembly of St. Do- mingo meets at St. Marc's on the 16th of April, 1790. It is oppofed by Mau- duit and the Partizans of Royalty, who gain over the People of Colour to their In- tereft. Extravagant Plan of a new Conflitution, voted by the Affembly on the 28th of May. Both parties prepare for War. The Deputies emburk for France, to justify their Conduct before the King and the National Convention. Proceedings of the Jacobins in France. They prevail upon J. Ogè to undertake an Expedition to St. |